Jerry R. Harrod's Obituary
Jerry Ralph Harrod was born July 10, 1943, in Eureka, Kansas to Ralph W. and
Elizabeth (Clum) Harrod. He attended Fiat grade school before moving to Howard
where he completed his education, graduating with the class of 1961. He married Mary
Buffalow on October 12, 1963, and had two sons, Gary and Greg.
Jerry worked in construction before starting his own business in 1970 – Harrod’s
Blacksmith and Welding. He, along with Mary and Gary, grew and expanded their
business to serve the needs of their local and surrounding communities, creating
Harrods, Inc. From helping the small farmer to supporting large oil field companies,
Jerry devoted himself to applying his many skills and years of experience to solve
almost any kind of challenge his customers faced.
Even when his aging body began to fail him, he found ways to make his backhoe his
“right hand man” so he could keep working as he did almost every day of his life. While
Jerry was deeply committed to the business, he was just as committed to loving and
caring for his family.
He is survived by his wife, Mary, and son, Gary, of Howard. Son, Greg, and wife,
Kiersten of Wichita. Brother, Weldon, of Ottawa and sister, Janis Fuqua and her
husband Nathan of Douglass. Jerry had five grandchildren: Kayla Fulsom, Ashley
Porter, Aidan, Donovan, and Keegan Harrod and six great-grandchildren: Jaxon, Carly,
Reese, and Halle Fulsom and Millie and Ada Porter.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, a daughter-in-law, and a grandson.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at 10:00 am at Countryside Funeral Home – Howard, with burial to follow at Grace Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025, from 5:30-7:30 pm at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers you are invited to contribute to the Elk County Community Foundation to help support the community in which Jerry lived his entire life, these memorials may be left with or mailed to the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com Services are under the direction of Countryside Funeral Home 206 E. Washington, P.O. Box 1233, Howard, KS 67349
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